Interested in how the live dealer casino industry evolved? The below discussion touches on some of major milestones, including formation of key platform providers, operators and regulatory jurisdictions around the world. Live dealer casinos are a vertical within a vertical and therefore a relatively niche industry still in its formative stages but the journey to date has still been an interesting one.

In 1994 the Caribbean nation of Antigua Barbuda passes the The Free Trade and Processing Zone Act, 1994 and the Directorate of Offshore Gaming is formed within the Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC) with specific mandate of enforcing the licensing and regulatory framework set out in the Act. Antigua Barbuda becomes the first jurisdiction to issue online gambling licenses to gaming and wagering companies in 1994.

Casino software giant Microgaming is formed on the back of the development of what is claimed to be the first online casino software platform. Microgaming will go on to become one of the largest casino software developers, by any measure, with a game suite in 2009 of 400 random number generator games, mobile casino games, poker, bingo, and live dealer casino games.

1996 - A North American licensing and regulatory presence

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission is founded out of the North American Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, providing a licensing and regulatory regime for operators hosted within its territory. Kahnawake goes on to become a prodigious licenser of online gambling operators including a number of live dealer licensees.

Soon afterward the Interactive Gaming Council is founded by a group of online gambling operators, including Microgaming, to provide the industry with a unified voice, political lobbying clout and fair gaming code of conduct for members to adhere to.

1999 - A second casino software giant is founded

Playtech is founded by a group of software engineers and multi-media industry entrepreneurs lead by majority owner Teddy Sagi. Playtech will go on to become an industry leader with dozens of large name licensee casinos including Bet 365, Befred and William Hill, a 2006 London Stock Exchange listing and a reputation for leading the industry with product development and innovation.

Their product suite as at 2009 includes 150 RNG games, mobile casino games, bingo, one of the industries most comprehensive live dealer platforms and a poker network (iPoker network) claimed to be the largest in the world pre-UIGEA with up to 30,000 concurrent players at peak times.

2000 - A European region online gambling licensing jurisdiction is born

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission is formed as the regulatory authority enforcing the operative provisions of Alderney’s recently enacted online gambling legislation…The Gambling (Alderney) Law, 1999. It goes on to become a significant online gambling licensing jurisdiction with licensees including Gala Ltd, Blue Square Ltd, Full Tilt Poker and more recently Evolution Core Holdings Ltd, owners of the Evolution Gaming live dealer platform.

2003 - eCOGRA is founded and Playtech launches its live dealer platform

eCOGRA is founded as a not for profit organization providing a best practice operating framework for the online casino gambling industry.

2004 - An EU Member State puts licensing regime in place for online gambling operators

The Gambling Act (UK) 2005 is enacted in the United Kingdom, paving the way for licensed UK based online casino operators who may advertise within Britain via mainstream media. The UK Gambling Commission is formed to oversee compliance to the Act’s operative provisions.

The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority is formed pursuant to the Gambling Act (Gibraltar) 2005 and another jurisdiction opens its doors to operators wishing to apply for licenses.

The Remote Gambling Association is formed following a merger between the Association of Remote Gambling Operators and the Interactive Gaming, Gambling and Betting Association.

Live roulette is born in the UK, with Vegas 24/7 Broadcasting Ltd (later acquired by NetPlayTV Plc) offering a live roulette game on a dedicated Sky Digital channel for UK subscribers.

2006 - Microgaming, Evolution launch live dealer platforms

Microgaming begin their foray into live dealer gaming launching live baccarat.

Evolution Gaming is founded as a specialist live dealer platform provider with a dealer studio in Riga, Latvia. In the three years to 2009, Evolution goes on to sign some of the biggest names in online gambling to their platform, including BetVictor, Unibet, 888.com, William Hill, and Ladbrokes.

The Bush Administration passes the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act making it illegal for US financial institutions to facilitate transactions between US residents and online gambling operators not licensed in the US.

Dublinbet launches, claiming to be the first online casino streaming games from a real ‘bricks and mortar’ casino…the Fitzwilliam Card Club and Casino in Dublin, Ireland using Vuetec’s Java based streaming and bet interface platform.

UK betting institution Ladbrokes signs a licensing deal with CWC Gaming for use of its live dealer platform.

2007 - Smart Live Casino begins broadcasts of roulette and blackjack games on Sky TV

Smart TV Broadcasting limited and AIM listed NetPlayTV Plc, owners/operators of Smart Live Casino and Supercasino.com respectively are issued remote gambling licenses by the UK Gambling Commission. Both casinos begin offering their live roulette and blackjack games over dedicated Sky and Freesat channels in addition to casts on their website under the new licensing and regulatory regime.

Bet365 and BetFred add live dealer casino games from Playtech’s Asian dealer studio.

2008 - More big names add live casino games

Blue Square launch their live casino powered by Evolution Gaming.

NetPlayTV Plc launch their internet casino Supercasino.com, leveraging their live existing live ‘for TV’ roulette product and adding live blackjack to their product offering. As well as internet, distribution channels expand to include Freeview.

William Hill Online is formed as the joint venture vehicle of Playtech (29%) and William Hill Plc (71%) and launches the William Hill Casino Club which includes live dealer games (from the Playtech naturally).

Entertasia signs a master license agreement with RNG game developer Cryptologic, for the supply of their live dealer platform to Cryptologic licensee casinos.

2009 - Latvia’s live gaming footprint grows

Playtech opens its European based live dealer studio, located in Riga, Latvia – the same city where Evolution Gaming’s dealer studio is located.

In May, UK television regulators Ofcom reclassify the definition of ‘teleshopping’ to include gambling, opening the door for casino game operators to purchase time on free-to-air channels. In September Supercasino.com starts broadcasting its live roulette games on Channel Five.

Evolution Gaming are named EGRB2B Live Casino Supplier of the Year for the 2nd year running

Evolution Gaming gain certification from Italy’s AAMS to provide licensed live games in Italy and announce the launch of Venezia live roulette tailored to the Italian market complete with Italian speaking dealers. Ventuno live blackjack for Italians is soon to follow.

Developments in the iPad/Android live casino game space gather pace. Evolution launch live blackjack for iPad, Playtech launch live roulette for iPad, and live dealer Apps start appearing in the UK Apple App store.